Vehicle occupant restraint system

ABSTRACT

A vehicle safety device is disclosed herein for protecting occupants during an accident having a roof housing for storage of a plurality of inflatable, spaced apart tubes carrying a sleeve of netting material adapted to surround and confine the occupants upon deployment. Deployment is achieved upon the occurrence of an accident by releasing a pressurized gas coupled to the tubes for inflation thereof and rapid extension of the netting from the housing. The netting and inflated tubes are positioned about the occupants and the back of the seat to restrain the occupants from forward or lateral movement.

States Patent [191 llnite .lohn

[ VEHKCILE OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEM 22 Filed: June16,1972

21 Appl. No.: 263,405

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,937,223 1/1970 Germany 280/150 BPrimary Examiner1(enneth l-l. Betts Assistant Examiner.l. D. RubensteinAttorney, Agent, or Firm-Roger A. Marrs [5 7] ABSTRACT A vehicle safetydevice is disclosed herein for protecting occupants during an accidenthaving a roof housing for storage of a plurality of inflatable, spacedapart tubes carrying a sleeve of netting material adapted to surroundand confine the occupants upon deployment. Deployment is achieved uponthe occurrence of an accident by releasing a pressurized gas coupled tothe tubes for inflation thereof and rapid extension of the netting fromthe housing. The netting and inflated tubes are positioned about theoccupants and the back of the seat to restrain the occupants fromforward or lateral movement.

10 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures VEHICLE OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention In general, thepresent invention relates to personnel restraint systems for minimizinginjuries to passengers of a vehicle during accidents and, moreparticularly, to a novel extendable netting positionable about theoccupants of a vehicle upon the sensed occurrence of an accident so asto avoid adverse effects of rapid deceleration.

2. Description of the Prior Art In the past, it has been theconventional practice to employ an inflatable gas-filled confinement toimprove the chances of passenger survival during the occurrence of anaccident involving a vehicle. In general, the gas-filled confinementtakesthe form of a bag normally stored beneath the dashboard of thevehicle which is rapidly inflated upon the occurrence of an accident sothat the expanded bag occupies a substantial portion of the interior ofthe vehicle between the occupant and the windshield, steering wheel anddashboard of the vehicle. Such a device is shown in US. Patent No.3,606,377 wherein it is further disclosed that the source of gasutilizes a chemical, electro-chemical or pyro-technic reaction togenerate a quantity of gas for inflating the bag.

Other attempts have been made to restrain or confine the passengers of avehicle by inflation systems such as is disclosed in US. Patent No.3,588,142 wherein the inflatable bag is carried on the roof of thevehicle and deployed immediately in front of the occupant and slightlyto his side. This latter system further includes instruments for sensingthe occurrence of the accident and means responsive to the sensing meansfor deploying the inflatable bag directly into the passenger compartmentof the vehicle.

Difficulties and problems have been encountered when employinginflatable bags such as those disclosed in the prior art patentsmentioned above which stern largely from the fact that inflation of thebag is so rapid that extremely loud and ear-irritating noise results andthe vision of the occupants, including the driver, is considerablyobscured. Furthermore, these conventional inflatable bag systems are notgenerally reusable and certainly cannot be employed for secondaryaccidents which occur immediately after the initial accident initiallydeploying the inflatable bag. The entire general idea of using rapidlyexpanding inflatable bags is extremely unnatural and quite confusing tothe occupants who experience startling reactions. A further problemresides in the fact that these prior art restraining systems do noteffectively prevent lateral body movements and do not normally have atendency to hold the occupant in his seat by completely surrounding theoccupant and the seat.

Therefore, there has been a long standing need to provide a safetydevice for completely surrounding the occupant at the time of anaccident whereby restraint is achieved in all directions and withoutobscuring the vision of the driver.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the above difficulties andproblems are obviated by the present invention which provides anenveloping shield carried by inflatable tubes which are arranged to bedeployed by introduction of a high pressure gas thereto. The shield maytake the form of a netting material of angular weave so that visibilityis not impaired and the netting is deployable about the occupant of thevehicle and the back of the seat supporting the occupant.Instrumentation may be connected to the source of pressurized gas forautomatically releasing the gas upon the sensing of impact. A housing iscarried on the roof of the vehicle immediately above the occupantintended to be surrounded by the netting and the housing contains meansfor permitting the release of the neeting from its storage positiontherein upon inflation of the tubes.

Therefore, it is among the primary objects of the present invention toprovide a novel personnel restraint system for vehicles employing aporous netting adapted to be deployed so as to completely surround theoccupant and the back of the seat upon which the occupant is seated.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel deployablerestraint system for vehicles employing a pressurized gas to extendinflatable members carrying a netting whereby the netting completelysurrounds the occupant and restrains the occupant from encounteringdangerous deceleration loads.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a deployableporous shield for surrounding the back of the seat and its occupantwherein forward and lateral movements of the occupant are substantiallyretarded and wherein visibility is readily available so that operationof the vehicle is not impaired.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a novelrestraint system for occupants of a vehicle which is economical tomanufacture, easy to install and one which permits normal operation ofthe vehicle when deployed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The features of the present inventionwhich are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in theappended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization andmanner of operation, together with further objects and advantagesthereof, may best be understood by reference to the followingdescription, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. I is a diagrammatic view, in side elevation, of an automobileincorporating the vehicle occupant restraint system of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the vehicle occupant restraintsystem of the present invention employed in the vehicle shown in FIG. Iand illustrated as being partially deployed above the occupant;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the restraint system shown in FIG.2 and illustrated as being substantially deployed about the occupant andthe back of the seat;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the restraint system housing andillustrating portions thereof broken away to illustrate the plurality ofinflatable tubes and the continuous netting;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the housing illustrating the storageof the tubes and netting as taken in the direction of arrows 55 of FIG.4;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to the view of FIG. 5 illustrating expansion ofthe inflatable tubes during initiation of the system;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the restraint system illustrating thedisposition of the netting about the seat and its occupant;

FIG. 8 is a view of a typical inflatable tube employed in the system ofthe present invention and as taken in the direction of arrows 8-8 ofFIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the tube shown in FIG. 8as taken in the direction of arrows 9-9 thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1, a vehicle10 is illustrated in the form of a conventional automobile having frontand rear bumpers 11 and 12, respectively, and a front seat 13 and a rearseat 14. Each of the respective seats 13 and 14 are provided with backsections 15 and 16, respe .tively. The vehicle further includes a roofstructure 17 which is supported from the main body of the vehicle in aconventional manner. It is to be noted that the seats 13 and 14 areadapted for accommodating a driver for operating the vehicle and anumber of passengers.

In accordance with the present invention, the vehicle restraint systemis primarily contained within a housing 20 carried on the underside ofthe roof structure 17 immediately above the driver and/or passengerposition. It is to be understood that additional restraint systemhousings may be located above other occupants within the vehicle;however, only a single such system wil be described with respect to theoperator or driver of the vehicle. The housing 20 is employed forstorage of the system prior to deployment in the event of an accident.For deployment purposes, a supply 21 of high pressure gas is carried onthe vehicleand is energized or activated by means of sensors 22 and 23located on the front and rear bumpers of the vehicle. It is to beunderstood that the sensors may be placed in other critical locations;however, by placing the sensors on the bumpers, the most criticallocations are employed for illustrative purposes. The restraint systemhousing 20 is operably connected to the source of pressurized gas 21 bya manifold 24 suitable for conducting the high pressure gas to therestraint system upon actuation by the sensors. Any suitableinstrumentation may be employed for the sensors and actuator units whichencompasses both electrical and mechanical devices, such as straingauges, pyro-technic devices or the like.

Referring now in detail to FIG. 2, it can be seen that the manifold 24supplies the pressurized gas to a plurality of headers, such as header25, arranged along the top of the housing 20. The high pressure gas isemployed for inflating and therefore, extending a plurality oftubes suchas is represented by tube 26. The plurality of tubes are normally storedin a folded or noninflated position within the housing 20 and, uponinflation by the introduction of the pressurized gas, the plurality oftubes extend out of the housing 20 to surround the vehicles operator andseat back 15. As the plurality of tubes downwardly depend from housing20, a porous netting 27 is carried about the occupant and the back ofthe seat 15 by the plurality of tubes. Netting 27 is endless and willcompletely surround the occupant and back of the seat 15 including theheadrest indicated in the general direction of arrow 28. Netting 27 issuitably attached to an outside peripheral portion of each of theplurality of tubes 26 so that the netting will follow the downwardmovement thereof. The netting 27 is preferably of a very large mesh sothat the operator of the vehicle can see through the netting. It iscontemplated by the present invention that a portion of the nettingimmediately forward of the driver's face may be provided with a smalltransparent window composed of plastic or the like. The plurality oftubes 26 are preferably composed of a polyvinyl plastic whereas thenetting 27 may be composed of any suitable fabric material, plasticstrips, nylon line or the like.

It is to be noted that the headrest 28 includes a support or stanchion30 that is repeated on the opposite side of the headrest wherein thestanchions are supported in an upright position from the seat back 15.The headrest 28 includes at least three tiers of foam material asrepresented by numerals 31, 32 and 33, respectively. The tiers of foammaterial are arranged in fixed spaced apart relationship with respect toeach other so that the driver of the vehicle has rearward visibility tolook past the headrest. Construction in this manner provides a headrestwhich does not obstruct the rear view of the driver.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the netting 27 is illustrated as being fullydeployed and downwardly depending from housing 20. The netting issemi-rigidly supported by the inflated and extended lengths of tubing26. As the tubes are deployed by the introduction of pressurized gas,the net or netting 27 is drawn out between the tubes and it is to benoted that the run of fabric comprising the net weave is angled so thatwhen the net is fully deployed, the tubes are drawn somewhat together.Preferably, the plurality of tubes are arranged so as to extenddownwardly at an outward angle so that if a person is not located in thecenter of his seat, he will still be confined within the restrainingnetting once it has been fully deployed. Since the netting extends tothe leg area of the occupant of the seat, this will restrain a smallperson as well as a large person. When the netting reaches fulldeployment, residual tube pressure continues to restrain the occupant orperson in the event of secondary collisions. If the deceleration forcesexceed allowable rates, the body of the person forces the netting tocollapse the tubes. As the deceleration decreases, the residual tubepressure will again expand and harden the tubes to reposition theoccupant. Also, FIG. 3 more clearly illustrates that the fully deployedtubes and netting extend from the front of the occupant to a locationbehind the seat back 15 as well as on either side of the occupant.Preferably, the netting is of a large enough mesh so that not only isvisibility unobstructed and restraint provided for the extremities ofthe occupant, but the mesh is small enough to prevent glass or otherfragments of the vehicle from penetrating the protection of the nettingat the time of the accident.

Referring now in detail to FIG. 4, the plurality of tubes 26 and thenetting 17 are shown in their storage condition within the housing 20 insolid lines. In broken lines, the plurality of tubes are illustrated intheir deployed conditions as well as netting 17. It is to be seen thatthe source of pressurized air via manifold 24 is introduced to theinterior of the tubes by headers 25. Obviously, the free ends of thetubes are closed so that the gas will not escape. To provide rigidityfor the tubes, each tube is provided with a spiral spring indicated bynumeral 34 which is compressed when the tubes and netting are in theirstored condition. The end of each tube not closed off is secured aboutthe respective headers 25 associated with the source of pressurized gasand is provided with an airtight seal against the housing 20 so that thehigh pressure gas will not escape.

In FIG. 5, a single tube of the plurality is illustrated in its foldedand stored condition coaxially disposed about the header 25. The tube isindicated at its closed end by numeral 35 which resides adjacent a pairof bendable doors or lips 36 and 37, respectively. The doors areseparated at their adjacent sides by a small gap 38 through which theclosed end 35 wedges itself upon pressurization of the tube.

As indicated in FIG. 6, the pressurized .tube extends through gap 38 andforces the doors 36 and 37 outwardly to permit passage of the tube andnetting.

With respect to FIG. 7, it can be seen that the netting 27 completelysurrounds the back of the seat and the occupant of the seat. Theplurality of tubes are arranged in spaced relationship with respect toeach other and are totally interconnected by the netting 27. In FIG. 8,it can be seen that the spring 34 expands outwardly and semi-rigiditiesthe tube 26 while in FIG. 9, it can be seen that the netting 27 may beattached to the tube 26 by any suitable means, such as adhesive, bondingagent, sewn fibers or the like.

Therefore, the vehicle restraining system of the present inventionprovides an improved means for restraining the occupant in his seatduring an accident in which the vehicle is involved. The vision ofthevehicle's oper ator is not impaired and his hands and legs are able tooperate the controls of the vehicle. The angular weave of thecross-fibers of netting 27 serve to yieldably restrain the occupant andcause the semi-rigid inflatable tubes to draw towards the occupant whenthe tubes are fully extended.

It is to be understood that although the restraining system is primarilydescribed with respect to the operator of the vehicle, the same systemmay be employed for occupants of the vehicles rear seat as well. It isalso to be understood that a separate restraining system can be providedfor each occupant in a seat or that three or more occupants may besurrounded by one restraining system.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shownand described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art thatchanges and modifications may be made without departing from thisinvention in its broader aspects and, therefore. the aim in the appendedclaims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within thetrue spirit and scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A personnel restraining apparatus for minimizing injury to anoccupant of a vehicle during the occurrence of an accident comprisingthe combination of:

a low profile housing carried on the underside of the roof of thevehicle immediately over the occupant and the back of the seatsupporting the occupant; said housing having a continuous peripheralopening defined by a pair of opposing pliable doors;

a plurality of inflatable tubes having a stored condition within saidhousing and an extended condition downwardly depending through saidcontinuous opening about the occupant and the seat back;

a netting carried by said plurality of tubes and surrounding theoccupant and the seat back when said plurality of tubes are in theirextended condition; and

means carried on the vehicle operably connected to said plurality oftubes for introducing a pressurized fluid thereto to forceably urge saidplurality of tubes through said continuous opening.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein each tube of saidplurality is closed at its extended end and further includes resilientmeans normally biasing said tube against said doors.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said netting is ofsufficient wide mesh to provide occupant visibility and of sufficientnarrow mesh to prevent passage of flying debris encountered during theoccurrence of an accident.

4. The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein said netting is composedof an angular weave whereby said tubes are slightly drawn inward whenfully extended, said angular weave providing a normal inward bias forsaid tubes in said extended condition. I

5. The invention as defined in claim 4 wherein said tubes are ofsufficient length to reach the lap of the occupant.

6. The invention as defined in claim 5 wherein said netting furtherincludes a sheet of transparent material immediately ahead of the faceof the occupant when said tubes and netting are extended.

7. The invention as defined in claim 3 including a manifold networkinterconnecting each of said tubes with said pressurized fluid means forsimultaneously extending all of said tubes as a unit.

8. The invention as defined in claim 7 including sensing means carriedon the vehicle and operably connected to said pressurized fluid meansfor actuating said latter means in response to the occurrence of anaccident.

9. The invention as defined in claim 8 wherein said plurality of tubescomprise at least twelve tubes and said tubes in said extended conditionembrace the upper torso of the occupant, the seat back and the headrest.

10. The invention as defined in claim 9 wherein said housing doors arecomposed of yieldable material permitting said tubes and said netting tobe forced through said continuous opening upon infla-

1. A personnel restraining apparatus for minimizing injury to anoccupant of a vehicle during the occurrence of an accident comprisingthe combination of: a low profile housing carried on the underside ofthe roof of the vehicle immediately over the occupant and the back ofthe seat supporting the occupant; said housing having a continuousperipheral opening defined by a pair of opposing pliable doors; aplurality of inflatable tubes having a stored condition within saidhousing and an extended condition downwardly depending through saidcontinuous opening about the occupant and the seat back; a nettingcarried by said plurality of tubes and surrounding the occupant and theseat back when said plurality of tubes are in their extended condition;and means carried on the vehicle operably connected to said plurality oftubes for introducing a pressurized fluid thereto to forceably urge saidplurality of tubes through said continuous opening.
 2. The invention asdefined in claim 1 wherein each tube of said plurality is closed at itsextended end and further includes resilient means normally biasing saidtube against said doors.
 3. The invention as defined in claim 2 whereinsaid netting is of sufficient wide mesh to provide occupant visibilityand of sufficient narrow mesh to prevent passage of flying debrisencountered during the occurrence of an accident.
 4. The invention asdefined in claim 3 wherein said netting is composed of an angular weavewhereby said tubes are slightly drawn inward when fully extended, saidangular weave providing a normal inward bias for said tubes in saidextended condition.
 5. The invention as defined in claim 4 wherein saidtubes are of sufficient length to reach the lap of the occupant.
 6. Theinvention as defined in claim 5 wherein said netting further includes asheet of transparent material immediately ahead of the face of theoccupant when said tubes and netting are extended.
 7. The invention asdefined in claim 3 including a manifold network interconnecting each ofsaid tubes with said pressurized fluid means for simultaneouslyextending all of said tubes as a unit.
 8. The invention as defined inclaim 7 including sensing means carried on the vehicle and operablyconnected to said pressurized fluid means for actuating said lattermeans in response to the occurrence of an accident.
 9. The invention asdefined in claim 8 wherein said plurality of tubes comprise at leasttwelve tubes and said tubes in said extended condition embrace the uppertorso of the occupant, the seat back and the headresT.
 10. The inventionas defined in claim 9 wherein said housing doors are composed ofyieldable material permitting said tubes and said netting to be forcedthrough said continuous opening upon inflation of said tubes.